Shipping Not Affected By Louisiana Tanker Collision

Shipping operations at the Southwest Pass, off Louisiana, were not affected by a minor crude oil spill after two crude oil tankers collided on March 15, Coast Guard officials said.

The spill took place approximately 40 miles south of Grand Isle, La., when a lightering vessel owned by American Eagle Tankers Inc., the Eagle Carina, collided with a Chevron oil tanker, the J. Dennis Bonney, while preparing to transfer crude oil from the tanker to the lightering vessel, company officials said.

It was estimated that approximately 7,560 to 8,400 gallons of crude oil were spilled. The Coast Guard classifies an offshore spill of this volume as minor.

There were no injuries resulting from the collision and no reports of impact to marine wildlife resulting from the spill, officials said. The current spill trajectory indicates the spill does not pose a threat to shore, and the spill is expected to move further offshore.